A US$5.2 million Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded initiative has been launched to support low-carbon, climate-resilient and nature-positive urban development in Nairobi, Kenya. The five-year project, implemented by UNEP and UN-Habitat in partnership with the Government of Kenya and Nairobi City County, will pilot integrated green neighbourhood approaches in Kamukunji, aiming to improve living conditions for more than 85,000 residents while reducing emissions and restoring ecosystems along the Nairobi River corridor.
The initiative will strengthen urban planning systems, institutional capacity, and digital tools to support climate-responsive development, while also promoting innovative financing to scale sustainable solutions. It will demonstrate how coordinated neighbourhood-level planning can integrate climate mitigation, ecosystem restoration, sustainable mobility, renewable energy, and improved waste management to create healthier urban environments.
Backed by additional future public investment and technical support from partners, the project seeks to position Nairobi as a model for sustainable urban transformation under the Global Environment Facility’s Sustainable Cities Integrated Program, which spans more than 50 cities worldwide. It responds to rapid urbanisation challenges such as infrastructure pressure, pollution, and climate vulnerability by promoting inclusive, resilient, and nature-based urban development approaches.
